IAN Hayles yesterday apologised for telling a People’s National Party (PNP) rally last weekend that he was approached by Luther Buchanan, the member of parliament for Westmoreland Eastern, to challenge Dr DK Duncan for the chairmanship of the party’s region six.

Hayles, who represents Hanover Western, told comrades at the launch of his campaign for the chairmanship at Montego Bay High School that he was approached by Buchanan two years ago to mount the challenge.

However, he claimed that he backed down at the time as he was not ready.

But yesterday, Hayles issued a statement saying that he was withdrawing the remarks.

“It has come to my attention that remarks made by me on Saturday, August 15, 2015, at the Montego Bay High School have been interpreted by Mr Luther Buchanan as an affront,” Hayles said yesterday.

“I wish to categorically state that it was never my intention, by virtue of my remarks, to cause Mr Buchanan to take umbrage. It is on this basis that I withdraw the remarks at issue forthwith, with the intention to dispel any such notion,” he added.

Highly placed PNP sources told the Jamaica Observer that Hayles was confronted about the statements at Monday’s meeting of the party’s executive by Buchanan.

Buchanan, the Observer was told, demanded that Hayles withdraw the statements, as they were completely inaccurate.